Dozens of people died yesterday at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi in a terrorist attack that was shocking in its brutality and brazenness. Among those killed was a member of our own extended family: Ruhila Adatia-Sood, wife of Ketan Sood, a Foreign Service National at our Mission in Nairobi. Ruhila was several months pregnant with their child.

To provide a vital resource for critically ill children across Southern Africa and a learning hub for doctors and nurses in the region, today the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah announced a partnership with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund USA and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust to support the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah will travel to New York from September 22 to 26 to participate in the 68th United Nations General Assembly. Administrator Shah will lead the USAID Delegation at the UN and participate in high level events and meetings with leaders from foreign governments, NGOs, the business community, and the media. USAID will co-host the following events at United Nations General Assembly.

On September 19, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Chief Strategy Officer Carla Koppell will participate in a panel discussion on “A Call To Action: Taking A Stand Against Gender-Based Violence” hosted by The New Republic in partnership with CARE. The event will take place at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah, administered the oath of office to Senior Foreign Service Officer R. David Harden as the new USAID Mission Director to West Bank and Gaza. The USAID West Bank and Gaza Mission manages programs in the areas of democracy and governance; education; health and humanitarian assistance; private enterprise; and water resources and infrastructure.

Today, Angelique Crumbly was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Management. USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah administered the oath.

On September 10, 2013 James A. Bever was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Mission Director for Ghana. In this capacity he will oversee USAID’s country-specific programs in agriculture, governance, economic growth, education, and health.

Today, Sarah-Ann Lynch was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Mission Director for Iraq. As director of the mission, Ms. Lynch will have the primary responsibility for overseeing programs that work with Iraqis to strengthen their democratic institutions, improve governance, and promote civil society and private sector growth while improving the quality of primary health care services.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah will travel to Durham, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 12 to deliver a major speech at Duke University. The speech will focus on USAID's partnership with Duke University and and the role of innovation in solving the greatest challenges in development around the world.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Lions Clubs International (LCI) have launched their first joint in-country activity in Macedonia dedicated to improving literacy among children with disabilities.

On September 9, U.S.Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah traveled to Arkansas. During his visit, he signed a memorandum of understanding with Walmart and the Walmart Foundation that will improve livelihoods around the world by promoting women's economic empowerment, sustainable agriculture, environmental sustainability and vocational and life skills training for youth.

On September 9, the Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas will host U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah as the featured speaker for its “Food for Thought” lecture series. The Bumpers College is partnering with the Sam M. Walton College of Business to host the event.

Today, Michael T. Harvey was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Mission Director for Nigeria. In this capacity he will oversee USAID’s vast portfolio of programs in agriculture, democracy and governance, economic growth, education, and health.

Yesterday, at World Water Week in Stockholm, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Coca-Cola Company announced support for new programs under their Water and Development Alliance (WADA) that will provide over 190,000 people with improved clean water and/or improved sanitation services by the end of 2015.

Today, Susan Riley was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Mission Director for Madagascar. In this capacity she will oversee USAID humanitarian assistance to the Malagasy people.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Starbucks today announced a public-private partnership to increase coffee yields and improve livelihoods for 25,000 farmers in support of Colombia’s rural development.

USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, two of the longest-serving development agencies addressing population concerns, announced today new efforts to strengthen their collaboration to advance reproductive health, including voluntary family planning, worldwide.

United States Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict, & Humanitarian Assistance Nancy Lindborg is traveling to Amman, Jordan August 18-21 for meetings and site visits focused on U.S. efforts to assist those affected by Syria’s escalating humanitarian crisis.